News Releases

Morehouse Breaks Ground on The Ray Charles Performing Arts Center

ATLANTA-May 15, 2007-- As Dr. Walter E. Massey enters the last days of his presidency at Morehouse, he will engage in an event that will further solidify his legacy at the College. On Friday, May 18, Massey, joined by College and City of Atlanta officials, will turn the soil at the corner of Joseph Lowery Blvd and West End Drive to make way for the College’s new Morehouse College Center for the Arts. The 75,000-square-foot building, which will contain The Ray Charles Performing Arts Center and the Morehouse Music Education Building, was one of the major projects of the successful Campaign for a New Century, which closed at more than $13 million above the $105 million goal.

The building will house the College’s legendary music program, which dates back to the founding of the world-renowned Morehouse College Glee Club in 1911. Also included in the building will be instructional, rehearsal and performance space. Both of the firms behind the construction of the building are Atlanta-based. R.L. Brown & Associates is the architectural firm and C.D. Moody Construction Inc. is the builder. C. D. Moody is a 1978 alumnus of Morehouse.

With the erection of the center, Morehouse will further define its role as a repository for the arts within the Atlanta community.

Morehouse is naming the performance space for the late Ray Charles because of his generous gifts to the College. In 2001, Charles gave Morehouse two $1-million gifts to seal a mutual commitment to find, educate and inspire the next generation of music pioneers.

What: Groundbreaking: The Ray Charles Performing Arts Center and Morehouse Music Education Building

When: Friday, May 18, 2007, 11:00 a.m.

Where: Corner of Joseph Lowery Blvd and West End Drive

In September 2004, Morehouse hosted a star-studded tribute to Ray Charles at the famous Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles to raise awareness about and money for the performing arts center. Some of those who participated in the event were executive producer and music director Ricky Minor and a list of award-winning singers, including Patti Austin, James Ingram, Gerald Levert, Michael McDonald, Brian McKnight, Ronnie Milsap, Billy Preston, Travis Tritt and Stevie Wonder.